I.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe Office of the U.

S.

Special Envoy to Sudan is pleased to announce an open competition for a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Capacity Building in Darfur program.

U.

S.

and international non-profit/non-governmental organizations

credit: Bureau of Labor Statistics

may submit proposals to manage a one-year project to strengthen NGO capacity in Darfur.

The means for achieving this objective include mapping and assessing current Ngo capacity, providing training and other services to develop Darfuri NGOs, and establishing a formal network of developed Darfuri to facilitate partnerships with the international community and donors.

The Office of the Special Envoy will award $300,000 for a one-year long project (with possible extensions).

The grantee should work closely with the Office of the Special Envoy throughout the grant period.

II.

BACKGROUND Sudan is the AdministrationÂ’s highest foreign policy priority in Africa.

The U.

S.

is committed to full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and achieving a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict in Darfur.An enduring peace for the people of Darfur remains elusive, despite the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in 200 6.

While there are fewer violent deaths in Darfur today than during the high period of fighting in 2003-2004, the armed movements have splintered and the sources of violence have multiplied.

Access for humanitarian agencies remains limited in spite of the efforts of the AU-UN Mission in Darfur, which is hamstrung by a lack of resources and Sudanese Government interference.

Limited pockets of stability, however, have emerged in Darfur as grassroots efforts to establish local-level ceasefires between neighboring villages, groups, and tribes have taken hold.

With recent progress in curtailing the Chad-Sudan proxy war and advancing negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the armed movements in Doha, these areas of stability in Darfur may continue to expand over the next year.

In light of these developments, the Office of the U.

S.

Special Envoy to Sudan believes that the climate in Darfur is ripe for promoting local Darfuri ownership of the peace process and follow-on development activities by building the capacity of Darfuri non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society.

Funding Priorities The U.

S.

Special Envoy to Sudan seeks to fund a non-profit/non-governmental organization with prior experience in similar projects.

In-kind financial contributions will be favorably considered.